Cultivator.



No. 850,520. 'PATENTE'D APR 16, 190?. w. E. BUTTERFIELD,

GULTIVATOPU. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 3,1906.

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IPATENTEID APR.1,6, 1901.

' W. E. BUTTERFIELD.

' GULTIVATUR.

APPLICATION FILED 11110.3,1906.

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WILLIAM E. BUTTERFIELD, or VENTURA, CALIFORNIA.

CULTIVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 16, 1907.

Applicatien filed December 3, 1906. Serial No- 346,125.

To aZZ whom 7125 may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. BUTTER- FIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ventura, in the county of Ventura and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cultivators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cultivators, and it has particular reference to a cultivator of the gangdisk type.

The invention specifically comprises a cultivator embodying a wheeled supporting element, a disk-supporting element movable with relation to the wheeled element so as to vary the angle of the cut of the disks, and means for adjusting the disks to different angular planes. This last-named feature renders the apparatus of great advantage in cultivating hilly or rolling grounds.

The invention has for its object to provide a new and useful combination and arrangement of elements, as will be set forth in detail in the course of the following description, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, like characters of reference designating similar parts throughout the several views, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a cultivator constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. thereof, one of the wheels being broken away and its shaft being shown in section in order to more clearly disclose the detailed elements to be hereinafter specifically referred to. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 of elements to be hereinafter specifically referred to. Fig. 4 is a front elevation thereof, showing the manner of adjusting the angular plane of the disks. Fig. 5 is a vertical sec tion on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, the frame only being disclosed; and Fig. 6 is a vertical section, taken at a right angle to Fig. 5 and showing only the frame and the adjustable axles upon which the traction-wheels are mounted. I

In the practical embodiment of my inven tion I employ a supporting-frame which comprises a stationary annulus 1, superimposed on an annulus 2, which is suspended from the annulus 1 by clips 3, as is shown in Fig. 3. The clips 3 are carried by the annulus 2 and loosely engage the annulus 1 in order-that the former may be rotated about its center with respect to the latter. The annuli 1 and 2 have rigid connection with and are spanned by respective longitudinal bars 4 and 5,

which pass through their centers. At a cen tral point on the bar 1 is mounted a threeway bearing 6, which serves as a journal for the independently-adjustable axles 7, the latter terminating in offset arms 8, the axes of which are parallel to the axes of the shafts 7. The traction-wheels 9 are mounted upon the arms 8. The bearing 6 also serves as a journal for a vertical shaft 10, carrying a hand-wheel 11 at its upper end and having its lower end fixed in the bar 5. To this end the shaft 10 has its lower portion squared, as at 12, and terminates in a threaded extremity 13, upon which is mounted a securing-nut l4.

Depending from the annulus 2 are suitablyconstructed bearings '15, arranged in diametrically opposite relations and in which the ends of a transverse shaft 16 are journaled. Upon the transverse shaft 16 are carried the dished or concaved disk plows 17, between which are interposed spacing-blocks 18.

The annulus 2, as above intimated, is retatable about its center with relation to the annulus 1. Such rotation is effected by manually turning the shaft 10, as will be readily apparent. It is desirable, however, that in certain positions the annulus 2 be held against movement or displacement with relation to the annulus 1. This consideration is attained by the provision of a pivoted foot-lever 19, whose angular end 20 engages in a single aperture 21 in the annulus 1 and in any one of a number of suitably-arranged apertures 22 in the annulus 2, which lastnamed apertures are of course brought into individual registry with the aperture 21. Such engagement is normally effected by a leaf-spring 23, having one end fixed, as at 24., to the bar 4, upon which the lever 19 is pivoted, and bearing with its free end against the inner end 25 of said lever 19.

As previously described, the inner ends of the axles 7 are journalcd in the bearings 6. Said axles are also j ournaled in bearings 26, provided upon the annulus 1, and as thus supported are capable of adjustable rotation in said bearings. The means for effecting this adjustable rotation comprises manuallyoperated levers 27, fixed to each of said axles 7 adjacent to their inner ends and having sliding spring-pressed pawls 28 of conventional form which engage in notches 29, provided at selected intervals in quadrants 30.

The quadrants each have connection or may be formed integral with supportingbases 31, fixed to the bar 4. Between the levers 27 and rearwardly of the frame a seatpost 32 is mounted upon the bar 4 and carries the drivers seat 83, and to the forward portion of said bar 4 is fixed the end of the tongue 34.

In operation we will assume that the cultivator is being used on the side of a hill. In such use the levers 27 are swung to a vertical position, so as to move the wheels 9 and the arms 8 with relation to the frame, as is indi cated in dotted lines in Fig. l and in full lines at the left of Fig. 4. Such movement lowers all the disks 17 to a selected distance in order that they may enter the soil to the roper degree. In cultivating the side of a hill the dirt is thrown by the disks downhill, and when the end of a row is reached and the apparatus is turned the disks are reversed, so as to throw the dirt downhill when moving in an opposite direction. Such reversal is effected by depressing the lever 19 with the foot and by rotating the annulus 2 through the shaft 10 and handle 11 a semirevolution. Either one of the levers 27 may be used or both may be used in harmony, and it will be apparent that the disks 17 will as an entirety be set at any desired angle with relation to the ground in accordance with the particular lever 27 which is moved and in accordance with the amplitude of movement of such lever. It will also be apparent that when desired the horizontal angle of the entire series of disks 27 may be varied by rotating the annulus 2 to the proper degree in the manner described.

While the elements herein shown and described are well adapted to serve the functions set forth, it is obvious that various minor changes may be made in the proportions, shape, and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having fully described my invention, I

claim- A cultivator comprising a supporting annular wheeled frame, an annular frame rotatably suspended therefrom in coincident relation cultivator-disks carried by said lastnamed frame, upper and lower bars spanning said frames and passing through the centers thereof, said bars having fixed connection with said respective frames, and a vertical shaft journaled in the uppermost of said bars and having its end fixed in the lowermost of said bars and a handle provided upon said shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. BUTTERFIELD.

Witnesses:

E. G. l\ IoMARTIN, W. H. REILLY. 

